Lawn-trimming tool.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

W. N. DOAN. LAWN TRIMMING TOOL.

A'PPLIOATION Hum MAB. 2s, 1905.

Witnesse y Attorney s Annnzw E. mum no.. umosmvuzns. wAsHwGwN. n c.

UNITED i STATES ratented July 18, 1905. i

PATENT OEETCE.

VILLIAM NELSON DOAN, OF IBLISSFIELD, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO LOUIS L. DOAN, OF BLISSFIELD, MICHIGAN.

LAWN-TRIIVIIVIING TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,791, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed March 23,` 1905. Serial No. 251.657.

To all whom, t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM. NELSON DOAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blisslield, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Lawn-Trimming Tool, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lawn-trimming tools; and it has among its objects to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that the right is reserved to any changes, alterations, andmodifications to which recourse may be had within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the efficiency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a lawn-trimming tool constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the tool in operative position. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view also showing the tool in operative position. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blade with the roller removed.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The improved tool comprises a spadingblade 1, which is slightly curved in the direction of its length and which is provided at one end with a socket 2 for the reception of a handle 3. Said blade is provided with a transverse slot 4, adjacent to which are formed a pair of upstanding lugs 5 and 6 for the reception of a pin or shaft 7, upon which is journaled a roller 8, a portion of the periphery of which extends through the slot 4, as will be clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The lug 6 is extended upwardly above the lug 5, and it is provided upon its outer face with flanges 9, having grooves 1() for the reception of a vertically-adjustable cutting member 11, having at its lower end a hookshaped trench-cutter 12, the front and rear edges of which are beveled to form trenchcutting edges 18 14. The shank of the cutting member is provided with a slot 15 for the reception of a bolt 16, extending through the lug 6 and provided with a thumb-nut 17, which may be tightened against the face of the shank of the trench-cutting member, which latter may thus be secured in any position to which it may be adjusted.

, The spading-blade l is beveled at the front to form a cutting edge 18, and the ,inner front corner of said blade is preferably rounded, as shown at 19. It will also be observed that the handle-receiving socket 2 has been shown to one side of the longitudinal center of the spading-blade, being nearer the outer edge which carries the trench-cutting member, as by this construction the tool may be more effectively operated. This, however, is not absolutely essential, and the handlereceiving socket may, if preferred, be disposed at the longitudinal center of the blade.

This improved tool is especially devised for the purpose of trimming lawns adjacent to cement, stone, or concrete walks, one of which has been indicated at 20 in Figs. 1 and 2. The grass growing adjacent to such walks is apt to straggle over the walks, and inasmuch as it is impossible with an ordinary lawn-mower to trim the grass very close to such walks it is usually found necessary to remove such straggling grass with a spade or 9D with clippers, involving considerable labor. In operating this improved tool it is pushed or pulled over the walk with the inner vertl cal portion of the hook 12 in contact with the edge of the walk. By the first operation a narrow trench will be cut from which the sod may be readily removed, while by subsequent operations simply the straggling grass will be cut, leaving the edges of the lawn adjacent to the walks in a neatand trim condition.

The depth as well as the wid th of the trench may obviously be regulated by properly adj usting the cutting member. The roller obviously engages the walk and 'facilitates the operation of the device; but said roller may be dispensed with without departing from the invention. When the roller is discarded, the slot 4 in the blade will also usually be omitted.

The trench-cutting member-of the device being provided with front and rear cutting edges, it is obvious that the tool, as hereinbefore stated, may be manipulated either by pulling or by pushing, although it may be most pro'litably and easily operated by pushing it along the walk. The rear edgeof the cutting member, however, will be found extremely useful at corners and at the ends of walks, where portions of the sod not otherwise accessible may be readily trimmed with the back edge of the cutter.

During the operation of the device the front end of the roller-supported spadingblade may be caused to bear upon the walk, so as to clear the weeds and straggling grass from the latter in advance of' the cutter. This front cutting edge may also be used for spading in places which are particularly dil'icult of access, and also to remove the sod which is detached by the trench-cutter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is-- 1. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade, and a trench-cutter connected with said blade.

2. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade, and a trench-cutter adjustably connected with said blade.

3. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade, and a trench-cutter connected with said blade; said trench-cutter having front and rear cutting edges.

4. A trimming-tool including a s adingblade, and a trench-cutter adjustab y connected with said blade; said trench-cutter having front and rear cutting edges.

5. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade having a supportingroller, and a trench-cutter connected with said blade.

6. A trimming-tool including a blade hav-v blade having a supporting-roller, and a hookshaped trench-cutter connected with said blade and having front and rear cutting edges; said trench cutter being vertically adjustable with relation to the blade.

9. A trimming-tool including a slotted blade having upstanding lugs, aroller journaled between said lugs and extending through the slot, and a cutter connected with the blade.

10. A trimming -.tool including a slotted blade having upstanding lugs, a roller journaled between said lugs and extending through the slot, and a hook-shaped cutter connected adjustably with the blade.

11. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade, rotary supporting means for said blade, a handle connected with said blade to one side of' its longitudinal center, and a trench-cutter connected adjustably with the side of the blade nearest the handle.

12. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade, rotary supporting means for said blade, a lug upon said blade having grooved guide-I'langes, and a trench-cutting member adjustable between said flanges.

13. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade, rotary supporting means for said blade, a lug upon said blade having grooved guide-flanges, and a hook-shaped cutting member having a shank adjustable between said flanges.

14. A trimming-tool including a longitudinally-curved transversely-slotted blade having upstanding lugs adjacent to the slot, a roller mounted for rotation between said lugs and extending through the slot, a handle-receiving socket formed at one side of the longitudinal center of the blade, and a cutting member connected adjustably with the blade at the side nearest the handle.

15. A trimming-tool including a longitudinally-curved transversely-slotted blade having upstanding lugs adjacent to the slot, a roller mounted 'for rotation between said lugs and extending through the slot, a handle-receiving socket formed at one side of the longitudinal center of the blade, grooved guide-anges upon the outer 'face of the lug at the side of the blade nearest the handlereceiving socket, a hook-shaped cutting member having a shank engaging said guideflanges, and securing meansengaging the shank of the cutter to secure the latter in adjusted position.

16. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade having a handle-receiving socket at one side of its longitudinal center, rotary supporting means forsaid blade, and a trimming-tool connected with the latter.

17. A trimming-tool including a spadingblade having a handle-receiving socket at one side of its longitudinal center, and a trimming-tool connected with the blade at IOO IIO

the edge of the latter nearest the handle-re- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as oeiving socket. my own I have hereto aiiiXed my signature 18. A trimming-tool including a spadingin the presence of two Witnesses. blade having a handlefreoeiving socket at WILLIAM NELSON DOAN. 5 one side of its longitudinal center, and a Witnesses:

trimming-tool connected with and vertically LILLIAN L. LANE,

adjustable with relation to the blade. BRADFORD I). LANE. 

